RK-384

St Joseph. Pembina. Red River. M.T. 822 [circled] 43 Sept 4^th 1857

Dear folk.

Here I am safe and sound after the jolliest time I ever had in my life. Talk about the hardship of a voyageurs life! Why its all fun! On occasion all ducking, upsetting of a cart, going without any thing to eat or drink for twenty hours, having to walk five or ten miles etc only add zest to the thing. Really I have enjoyed it. Cavalier says I'm the best green voyageur he ever travelled with, but growls that I eat more than one of his big bellied Halfbreed men. I have been in perfect health and good spirits Have been very successful in collecting. Shot one old buffalo bull, and some smaller game, missed a chance for nobler(?) game in the persons of some rascally Sioux who tried to steal our horses - But had the fun of preparing

for and expecting the attack. I shall not get up as good a story of my Indian adventures as uncle Hiram did of his. Tho I've as good a foundation for a "tail of hairs breadth escapes" in crossing the plains as he perhaps.

I am getting fat on buffalo meat and pemican, and keep my organ of melancholy too busy as its more legitimate business for it to run me into the blues.

I find this quite a civilized country - I am now only at the first settlement 30 miles west of Pembina (we came down on the west side of red River through the plains) It is called St Joseph and is settled by a few whites (mostly french) and a lot of half breeds. with some Indians - The main settlements are further down on the Red River I shall start tomorrow for Selkirk. I shall travel with the carts and go slowly, but this I like the better as it gives me time to collect. I shall be in Selkirk in four days - I may possibly start from there for St Pauls

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Sept 10th with some carts that are going down - But I will probably conclude to hire a guide and wait till about the 20th -

Now that I am here twould be folly to hurry away when for $30 to a guide I can stay longer and travel more pleasantly - There is no danger in going down on the east side of Red River as there are none but friendly Indians. The road is not traveled by the trains because it is mostly through timber where a driver would be required for each cart while by the trains one man drives four carts.

I am well treated and shall have a pleasant time - only wish I had been here a month earlier.

At Selkirk I will find a large settlement and perfect civilization Some real "Bosting" yankees there - one in fact I already know

I wish the major could have been along with me. He would have enjoyed it hugely. I did not get as much

of buffalo shooting as I wanted as I couldnt readily get a horse but one big bull I killed in fine style, my horse being an old buffalo runner was up to it and helped me to bring down my game in good style. The majors gun is a far better article than is ever seen up here and I surprised them by putting seven balls into the old bull without missing once, at a the two first at a long range.

I could have shot a young fat bull but out of the two I chased, but I left that for the others and let old "Blackie" take me [illegible] after a monstrous old d-l that was wicked and stood at bay - I got laughed at for killing him as he was poor and not eatable but they thought me courageous to attack the ugly one of which they were afraid - but I was less brave than they thought me for I knew that if I chased the little one which was would run I should have to load and fire on the full gallop, while with the big fellow I felt sure of

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a standing shot by bring ing him to bay and as he showed he was wicked at the first start and I knew I could rely on old Blackee to keep me out of danger. I had no idea of the immense size and extreme ugliness of buffalo.

Going home Ill shoot bear and perhaps elk – but I dont intend to waste much time in hunting where tis not necessary to hunt for food.

I can tell you, that you can form no Idea of the great relish it gives to game to kill cook and eat it as the voyageurs do, and then to know that you’ve got to get it or go hungry makes it more pleasant – I did not hunt any coming up excepting the one day for buffalo, as our mess was well supplied with bull meat the whol time – I wish I could have tried a fat cow but we got nothing but bulls and they all old. I tried all the titbits of the buffalo, tongue, tripe, intestines, blood vessels, and all and was complimented by old Antoine the half breed guide by being told I was the first “green un” he had ever